National Association of Graduate and Professional Students (NAGPS)

The Saint Louis University Graduate Student Association is a member institution of the National Association of Graduate and Professional Students (NAGPS). NAGPS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of graduate and professional student life in the United State of America. To this end, NAGPS works to actively promote the interests and welfare of graduate and professional degree-seeking students in public and private universities, as well as in public and private agencies at the local, state, and national levels. In addition, through its national office and regional coordinators, NAGPS acts as a clearinghouse for information on graduate and professional student groups at all stages of development. NAGPS does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, academic, or national origin, gender, marital status, political orientation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. NAGPS has been granted nonprofit status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, contributions are tax deductible as provided by and allowable by state and federal law.

Currently 137 universities are members of NAGPS, thereby voicing the concerns of over 750,000 graduate and professional students in the U.S. Due to the large size of the organization, NAGPS was divided into regions with regional coordinators. SLU is in the South Central region. Each summer a regional conference is held to address regional and national issues. A National Convention is held each year as well. NAGPS was formed nine years ago because graduate students did not have a voice during the Reagan tax-reduction years. Today, that's why your income as a student is taxable and you pay FICA taxes. NAGPS is currently working on making Section 127 of the Tax Code. allowing employees to exclude up to $5,250 per year in tuition, books, fees, etc., as a permanent deduction. The voice of NAGPS was heard in Washington, D.C. when Mitzi Forbes, a Ph.D. nursing student and Mountain Regional Coordinator, and Gina Pearson, Legislative and Employments coordinator, spoke before congressional hearings and also attended a White House function representing NAGPS interests relating to the Clinton health care plan. Graduate students had been omitted from the plan, so NAGPS brought the oversight to the attention of Congress and to the White House.

For more information about NAGPS, please visit their web site at www.nagps.org

For more information about SLU's GSA, please check out the following links:

About GSA

GSA History

GSA Constitution & Bylaws